By: Derek Hawkins//March 18, 2020//
WI Court of Appeals – District II
Case Name: Racine County Human Services Department v. S.J.A.
Case No.: 2019AP2160; 2019AP2161
Officials: DAVIS, J.
Focus: Termination of Parental Rights
These consolidated termination of parental rights (TPR) cases concern mother S.J.A. and her minor children, A.K. and L.K. S.J.A. appeals from the circuit court’s order on partial summary judgment declaring her an unfit parent on the ground of abandonment, pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 48.415(1)(a), and from the subsequent orders involuntarily terminating her parental rights. Because there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether S.J.A. had “good cause” under § 48.415(1)(c) for failing to visit or communicate with A.K. and L.K., we reverse and remand for a fact-finding hearing.